Compressible tube squeezing device

ABSTRACT

A content-expelling squeezing device for flexible compressible tubes containing toothpaste or other substances. The combination of components comprising the device provides for the expulsion of the tube contents by means of a manually operable ratchet-type lever handle which affects progressive winding or unwinding of the tube around a slotted rotatable shaft selectively orientable to initially receive and to subsequently discard the expended tube. The device includes a resilient pressure or back-up plate in cooperation with the roller or rotatable shaft, and between which plate and shaft the tube is progressively collapsed. The ratchet-type handle contains means for effecting rotation of the shaft in both forward and reverse directions.

United States Patent Cafiedo-Ramirez [451 May 6,1975

[76] Inventor: Roberto Caiedo-Ramirez, Calle de Isabel Lozan Vda. de Betti No. 116, Mexico 13, D.F., Mexico 22 Filed: Apr. 1,1974

21 Appl.No.:456,774

[52] US. Cl. 222/99 [51] Int. Cl .t 865d 35/34 [58] Field of Search 222/93, 98, 99, 100, 101. 222/102, 105

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,295,433 2/1919 Chipperfield 222/102 1,968,578 7/1934 Tulin 222/100 X 2932,43] 4/1960 Lipton A 1 222/93 3,248,013 4/1966 Bekhor 222/101 X Primary ExaminerStanley H. Tollberg Assistant ExaminerNorman L. Stack, Jr. Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Mason, Fenwick & Lawrence [57] ABSTRACT A content-expelling squeezing device for flexible compressible tubes containing toothpaste or other substances. The combination of components comprising the device provides for the expulsion of the tube contents by means of a manually operable ratchet-type lever handle which affects progressive winding or unwinding of the tube around a slotted rotatable shaft selectively orientable to initially receive and to subsequently discard the expended tube. The device includes a resilient pressure or back-up plate in cooperation with the roller or rotatable shaft, and between which plate and shaft the tube is progressively collapsed. The ratchet-type handle contains means for effecting rotation of the shaft in both forward and reverse directions.

15 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures PMENTEDHAY 6i975 3,881,635

SHEET 10F 2 COMPRESSIBLE TUBE SQUEEZING DEVICE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a flexible tube squeezing device to expel the contents from within flexible compressible tubes of toothpaste and/or other similar substances, responsive to progressive winding of the tube around a bracket-supported shaft.

More particularly, the invention relates to a preferably wall-mountable device of the foregoing character, which embodies a ratchet-type handle operably connected with a longitudinally slotted rotatable hollow shaft in which the flattened distal end of the tube is inserted, and which shaft is disposed horizontally adjacent a portion of a resilient back-up spring plate. The spring plate is mounted under compression in a wall bracket with a convex portion sprung to bear resiliently against the shaft, and between which plate and shaft the flexible tube is progressively drawn to selectively expel the tube contents.

Heretofore there have been many generally similar devices for expelling the contents of compressible tubes, many of which use specifically different structural components in patentably distinct combinations. Some of the prior art devices embody a single shaft or roller and a generally fixed back-up roller or plate; others embody one or more pairs of oppositely rotatable squeezing rollers between which the tube is progressively squeezed as by a simple manually operable knob, key or lever. Still other more sophisticated devices have been evolved, one of which embodies a plurality of three cooperatively disposable rollers and a different form of ratchet-type lever or handle. Examples of some of the foregoing devices may be found in the following relevant prior U.S. Pat. Nos.: Chippenfield l,295,433; Bekhor 3,248,013; Lipton 2,932,431; Lott 3,221,941; and Borkenhagen, et al. 3,2l9,238. Examples of some generally relevant foreign prior patents over which the present invention also provides an improvement are: German Pat. No. 1,070,351, December l959/May I960; Sweden Pat. No. 137,908, November 1952', French Pat. No. 880,969, April I943; and Switzerland Pat. No. 483,964, January/February 1970.

None of the prior art devices with which I am familiar embody an assembly whose basic components are readily dismantleable for potential service if needed, and which when fully assembled provide for a slot in the horizontally disposed hollow shaft extending completely to the free end of the shaft, and which slot when facing outwardly is selectively alignable with a complementary slotted bracket arm to facilitate both easy insertion and removal of the flattened closed end of the collapsible tube without requiring disassembly of the devices components.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, it is a principal object of this invention to evolve a specifically different tube squeezing device of the aforedescribed character, which provides for the advantages and structure found to be lacking in the prior art as mentioned in the directly preceding paragraph, and providing such features in a relatively simplified manner.

Another object of the invention is to provide a tubesqueezing device of the above character, embodying a shaft-connectable ratchet lever having means to effect rotation of the tube-winding shaft in both forward and reverse directions, thereby facilitating not only the initial winding or rolling of the tube and subsequent unrolling thereof during the preferred downward disposition of the tube, but also optionally providing for upright disposition therewith if so desired.

Yet another object is to provide such a tubesqueezing device in which the wall-mounting bracket thereof includes top and bottom transversely offset flanges between which the greater length resilient back-up pressure plate is biased in a generally sinuous manner, and which lower flange portion of the bracket is disposed to project an arcuate surface at a substantial predetermined distance from the wall so as to smoothly support the depending flexible tube body in a desirable dispensing attitude.

These and other objects and advantages will become more apparent from the followoing detailed description, considered in conjunction with the following illustrative drawing figures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a frontal perspective view of the assembled tube-squeezing device, showing a flattened end of a flexible, compressible tube about to be inserted through the aligned slotted bracket arm and shaft;

FIG. 2 is a similar perspective view like that of FIG. 1, but showing many of the components disassembled in an exploded manner;

FIG. 3 is a left side elevational view of the squeezing device of FIGS. 1 and 2 shown mounted upon a wall;

FIG. 4 is an opposite or right side elevational view of the device, together with a dependingly mounted tube shown in the process of having the content squeezed therefrom;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary front view shown partially in elevation and partially in cross-section, showing some of the detail of the shaft and ratchet handle assembly;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary view similar to FIG. 4, but showing the ratchet direction control member in a reversed manner to facilitate reverse rotation of the shaft from that shown in FIGS. 1-4; and

FIG. 7 is a reduced scale perspective view of a modified form of the mounting bracket.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Reference will now be made to the detailed drawings wherein like reference characters designate like parts throughout the several Figures.

The tube-squeezing device, as shown fully assembled in FIG. 1, is generally designated A and comprises the basic components of composite mounting bracket means B, shaft supporting means preferably in the form of a sub-bracket C, slotted shaft means S on which the compressible tube T is wound or rolled up by means of the ratchet-type handle means H. The handle means H effects rotation of a shaft to progressively wind the compressible tube therearound and with the tube coacting with a resiliently mounted back-up plate P biased against the shaft. The basic components may be fabricated of any suitable material such as plastic, aluminum, steel or any other material conducive to a proper functioning of the assembled components.

More specifically, the mounting bracket means B, which can be mounted either vertically or horizontally,

comprises a basically planar wall plate having a transverse forwardly projecting preferably angular top flange member 12, and preferably a generally cylindrical tubular shaped bottom projection 14.

The shaft supporting means, whether integrally formed with or struck from plate 10, or fabricated as an attachable U-shaped sub-bracket C, includes a pair of laterally spaced shaft-supporting arms 16,16 also projecting transversely forward of plate 10 when assembled therewith. The arms 16,16 are spaced intermediate the offset top and bottom projecting members 12 and 14, and are provided with suitable bearing apertures 18,18 in which to rotatably support the shaft 17 of the shaft means S. The arm 16' is further notched at 20 preferably commencing at the forwardmost portion of and extending horizontally complementally into the aperture 18. The notch 20 is preferably tapered to complementally accomodate a corresponding tapered portion of the distal end of a tube T, and to communicate complementally with an elongated slot 22 provided throughout a major part of the shaft 17, when the shaft 17 is oriented by the handle means H so that the slot 22 and notch 20 are appropriately aligned.

The back-up plate P is preferably rectangularly shaped and fabricated of a thin, resiliently bendable material such as stainless steel or any other suitable material. It has a width to enable it to fit between the arms 16,16 and a length substantially greater than the distance between the top and bottom offset members 12 and 14. This greater length is predetermined so as to force the back-up plate into a curvalinear and generally sinuous form as depicted in the drawings. Thus, the upper edge of the back-up plate P is retained beneath the generally right-angular flange l2, and the lowermost edge fits between the planar plate 10 and the recurved terminal edge 24 of the tubular-shaped bottom projection 14. Angular flange 12 is preferably disposed at an angle slightly less than 90 relative to the planar plate 10, being inclined slightly downwardly when in the illustrated wall-mounted position. This arrangement is such that the intermediate portion of the plate is resiliently biased against the shaft S to co-act with and to compress the tube T between said back-up plate P and the shaft 17.

The shaft 17 may be fabricated of a predetermined length of a rigid, generally tubular material, and has the slot 22 extend completely to the free end thereof opposite from the end connectable with the handle means H. The other end of the slot 22 preferably stops short of handle side end. A stub shaft portion 24, better seen in FIG. 5, has a reduced end portion complementally insertable into the adjacent end of the shaft 17, and is releasably retained therein by a pin 26 insertable through aligned holes provided in the hollow portion of the shaft 17 and the stub shaft 24.

The handle means H is attached in combination with ratchet means 28 embodied therewith to the end of the stub shaft 24 so as to effect direct rotation of the shaft by movement of the lever arm 30 which constitutes part of the handle means H. An exemplary way of achieving this is by keying a toothed ratchet wheel 32 to the stub shaft 24, and preferably between bifurcated or composite handle sections 30a and 30b, the latter of which are also preferably similarly keyed or otherwise suitably attached to the stub shaft 24. In this regard, the stub shaft 24 may have a keyway 34 provided in the end portion 36 to receive either a separate key 38, or an equivalent to the key formed integrally on the ratchet wheel 32 and on corresponding adjacent bifurcated handle portions 30a and 30b. To retain the handle on the stub shaft 24, the end portion 240 shown in broken lines in FIG 5, can either be peened over as shown, or alternatively can be threaded or apertured to receive a nut or pin for the stated purpose.

The ratchet means further comprises pawl means 40 including a pivotally mounted pawl member 42 having two spaced detents 44 and 46 for selective engagement with the toothed ratchet wheel 32. The pawl member 42 further has finger-engageable projections 44a and 46a respectively for moving the pawl member 42 on its pivot pin 48 to effect the selective engagement of the respective detents 44 and 46 with the teeth of the ratchet wheel 32 to provide for reversible rotation of the shaft. A leaf spring 50 has one end seated in an internal handle notch 52 and the other end seated in a notch 54 of the pawl member 42. The spring 50 is appropriately bowed to properly bias the pawl member in the selective position depending up the desired direction of rotation.

With projection 44a of the pawl depressed, as shown in FIGS. l-4, the related detent 44 is engageable with the toothed wheel 32. Therefore, responsive to a pumping action of the lever arm 30, the shaft 17 rotates in a clockwise manner as viewed in FIGS. l-3 to wind the depending tube T around the shaft 17, while simultaneously forcing it against the cylindrical offset portion 14, as shown in FlG. 4. The size of the offset portion 14 in relation to the rest of the device is predetermined preferably so that the depending tube T is canted in a slightly forward position as shown in FIG. 4.

By depressing the other projection 46a, to move the pawl member 42 to the position shown in FIG. 6, the detent 44 is moved clear of the teeth, and the other detent 46 is moved into engagement with said ratchet wheel teeth.

It is understood that the ratchet and handle components are related so that the handle imparts the selective rotation to the shaft during movement in only one direction of the pumping strokes. That is, in FIGS. l-4, during the upstroke or raising of the handle 30, the detent 44 of pawl 42, by means of its spring biased mounting, merely rides out and over the outer periphery of the ratchet teeth. Then, responsive to the lever downstroke, the detent 44 is maintained in a non-yieldable condition by its design and spring mounting, whereby the ratchet wheel and attached shaft are rotated clockwise.

The opposite direction rotation is achieved by engaging the detent 46 with the teeth, during each upstroke of the lever 30. This reverse operation serves to effect unrolling of the fully collapsed or rolled tube to facilitate removal of the tube by withdrawing the flattened end through the slot and oriented notch 20 of the support arm 16'. Further, such reverse direction operation will enable a compressible tube to be mounted in an alternate upright position as shown at T in FIG. 6. In this condition, the tube T would be urged against the upper concave portion of the back-up plate P while being drawn between the said plate P and the shaft 17 when wound by the handle during each upstroke.

From the foregoing detailed description, it is apparent that the unique individual components also will lend themselves to disassembled collection for merchandising in a kit form which can be readily assembled in the home. The sub-bracket C as shown better in FIG. 2, when prepared in kit form, may have fastener screws or rivets (not shown) to effect the assembly with the basic bracket B on a do-it-yourself basis. Otherwise, the said sub-bracket C may be spot welded or suitably brazed to plate 10, as indicated at 56 in a non-obtusive manner. The planar plate of the basic mounting bracket B is further optionally provided with four corner apertures 58, better seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, to receive appropriate fasteners, such as screws 60, when mounting the same on either a vertical or horizontal support surface. In the absence of apertures 58, the device may be mounted by means of a suitable adhesive, which preferably can be easily removed by using a solvent or thinner thereon.

FIG. 7 is representative of a modified form of the mounting bracket, wherein plate 10' can have integral mounting tabs 62 and 64 cut respectively from the offset portion 12' and 14', as shown.

At least one tab is preferred at each of the opposite ends of the plate 10', but it is understood that either a wider tab or plural tabs could be struck from the flanges l2 and 14' so as to provide a pair of mounting holes at one or both of the opposite ends. The tabs may be cut all the way through to the edge of the respective flanges l2 and 14', or may terminate inwardly thereof as shown. The tabs are apertured to receive a fastener member therethrough, such as a screw or small nail, not shown. This arrangement would obviate the need for the corner apertures depicted as 58 in FIGS. 1 and 2.

In view of the foregoing detailed description considered together with the illustrative drawings, the operation thereof is deemed to be fully apparent and need not be redescribed herein. It is also apparent that a novelly unique squeezing device has been evolved which achieves all of the objectives and advantages as stated in the preamble and throughout the specification.

Further modifications and revisions may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the inventive concept hereof as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A content-expelling squeezing device for use with compressible tubes having a tapering and flattened distal end portion opposite a removable capped end, said squeezing device comprising the following components in combination:

a. a mounting bracket comprising plate means and having opposite ends terminating in transversely projecting offset portions for retention of a resilient back-up plate member interposed therebetween in a bowed/curved manner;

b. said bracket having shaft-mounting means including rigid laterally spaced shaft-support arms also projecting transversely from and unitarily with said bracket intermediate said offset end portions;

c. an elongated shaft rotatably disposable in said shaft support arms in spaced relation forwardly of said base bracket plate means, said shaft having longitudinal slot means including an elongated slot opening along a major part of one longitudinal side of said shaft for receiving the flattened distal end of a compressible tube therein;

d. a relatively thin semi-rigid resilient back-up plate of a width so as to fit between said shaft-support arms and having a length substantially greater than the distance between the offset end portions of said mounting bracket, said plate adapted to be resiliently interposed in a stressed curved manner between said offset end portions and between said shaft and said bracket plate means; and

e. handle means for rotating said shaft, including a hand-operated lever having one end portion with one-way drive operatively connected to one end of said elongated shaft so as to impart repeating rotation to said shaft in one direction of rotation;

f. said components being proportioned and disposed so that a compressible tube is windable upon said shaft and selectively progressively drawn between said shaft and an adjacent portion of said semi-rigid resiliently mounted back-up plate responsive to selective manual operation of said handle means.

2. A tube-squeezing device as defined in claim 1,

wherein said shaft has a free end opposite the end to which said handle means is connectable, said elongated slot of said shaft extending fully to said free end of said shaft;

said bracket shaft-support arm associated with said shaft free end having an open notch of a size generally corresponding to that of the slot and distal end portion of said compressible tube, said shaft slot and open notch of said shaft-support arm being selectively alignable by rotation of said shaft to facilitate insertion of said distal end portion of a compressible tube generally axially thereinto from a position laterally of said device.

3. A tube-squeezing device as defined in claim 1 for mounting on wall in an upright manner, and wherein said opposite end transversely projecting offset portions of said mounting bracket plate means respectively include one generally right-angular flange member, and one curvalinear member having at least a partial arcuate form of predetermined extent, to collectively cooperatively receive and retain said resilient back-up plate therebetween in a generally sinuous form and to hold a compressible tube in a vertical manner at a predetermined attitude relative to said shaft and basemounting bracket.

4. A device as claimed in claim 3, wherein said generally rightangular flange member is disposed to constitute an upper flanged end of the device, and the other curvalinear offset portion constitutes a lower auxiliary tube-supporting portion.

5. A device as defined in claim 4, wherein said upper flanged end has its flange member disposed at slightly less than relative to said bracket plate means, and inclined downward when the device is wall mounted; and said lower tube-supporting curvalinear portion has a generally closed cylindrical form with a free edge thereof terminating in spaced apart but relatively close proximity to the plate means of said mounting bracket, so as to permit assembly of said resilient back-up plate therewith.

6. A device as defined in claim 1, wherein said shaft mounting means is constituted by a generally U-shape sub-bracket rigidly attached to said base-mountin g bracket plate means.

7. A device as defined in claim 1, wherein said oneway drive means includes a ratchet-type mechanism embodied within said hand-operated lever.

8. A device as defined in claim 7, wherein said ratchet mechanism includes a member connected fixedly to and for rotation with said shaft and having circularly disposed ratchet teeth disposed coaxially with the axis of said shaft; and

cooperating pivotally mounted pawl means including a movable pawl member having at least one detent portion operatively engageable with said ratchet teeth and operable so that responsive to manual movement of said lever handle to rotation of said shaft is effected.

9. A device as defined in claim 8, wherein said ratchet mechanism includes means to facilitate ratchetoperated rotation of said shaft selectively in both a forward and reverse direction.

10. A device as defined in claim 1, wherein said shaft and handle means include complementally interfitting and interlocking means to provide for selective assembly and disassembly of the component parts.

1 l. A device as defined in claim 1, wherein said base mounting bracket is provided with apertures to receive fastener means therethrough for removable mounting thereof on a supporting surface.

12. A device as defined in claim 1, wherein said components are grouped in at least a partially disassembled manner to constitute unassembled components for kit form.

13. A device as defined in claim 1, wherein at least one of said transversely projecting offset end portions is provided with mounting tab means formed from an integral part of said offset portion.

14. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein both of said transversely projecting offset end portions are provided with apertured mounting tab means formed integrally therewith by excised portions.

15. A device as defined in claim 14, wherein said apertured mounting tab means are disposed in generally coplanar relation to said mounting bracket plate means. 

1. A content-expelling squeezing device for use with compressible tubes having a tapering and flattened distal end portion opposite a removable capped end, said squeezing device comprising the following components in combination: a. a mounting bracket comprising plate means and having opposite ends terminating in transversely projecting offset portions for retention of a resilient back-up plate member interposed therebetween in a bowed/curved manner; b. said bracket having shaft-mounting means including rigid laterally spaced shaft-support arms also projecting transversely from and unitarily with said bracket intermediate said offset end portions; c. an elongated shaft rotatably disposable in said shaft support arms in spaced relation forwardly of said base bracket plate means, said shaft having longitudinal slot means including an elongated slot opening along a major part of one longitudinal side of said shaft for receiving the flattened distal end of a compressible tube therein; d. a relatively thin semi-rigid resilient back-up plate of a width so as to fit between said shaft-support arms and having a length substantially greater than the distance between the offset end portions of said mounting bracket, said plate adapted to be resiliently interposed in a stressed curved manner between said offset end portions and between said shaft and said bracket plate means; and e. handle means for rotating said shaft, including a handoperated lever having one end portion with one-way drive operatively connected to one end of said elongated shaft so as to impart repeating rotation to said shaft in one direction of rotation; f. said components being proportioned and disposed so that a compressible tube is windable upon said shaft and selectively progressively drawn between said shaft and an adjacent portion of said semi-rigid resiliently mounted back-up plate responsive to selective manual operation of said handle means.
 2. A tube-squeezing device as defined in claim 1, wherein said shaft has a free end opposite the end to which said handle means is connectable, said elongated slot of said shaft extending fully to said free end of said shaft; said bracket shaft-support arm associated with said shaft free end having an open notch of a size generally corresponding to that of the slot and distal end portion of said compressible tube, said shaft slot and open notch of said shaft-support arm being selectively alignable by rotation of said shaft to facilitate insertion of said distal end portion of a compressible tube generally axially thereinto from a position laterally of said device.
 3. A tube-squeezing device as defined in claim 1 for mounting on wall in an upright manner, and wherein said opposite end transversely projecting offset portions of said mounting bracket plate means reSpectively include one generally right-angular flange member, and one curvalinear member having at least a partial arcuate form of predetermined extent, to collectively cooperatively receive and retain said resilient back-up plate therebetween in a generally sinuous form and to hold a compressible tube in a vertical manner at a predetermined attitude relative to said shaft and basemounting bracket.
 4. A device as claimed in claim 3, wherein said generally rightangular flange member is disposed to constitute an upper flanged end of the device, and the other curvalinear offset portion constitutes a lower auxiliary tube-supporting portion.
 5. A device as defined in claim 4, wherein said upper flanged end has its flange member disposed at slightly less than 90* relative to said bracket plate means, and inclined downward when the device is wall mounted; and said lower tube-supporting curvalinear portion has a generally closed cylindrical form with a free edge thereof terminating in spaced apart but relatively close proximity to the plate means of said mounting bracket, so as to permit assembly of said resilient back-up plate therewith.
 6. A device as defined in claim 1, wherein said shaft mounting means is constituted by a generally U-shape sub-bracket rigidly attached to said base-mounting bracket plate means.
 7. A device as defined in claim 1, wherein said one-way drive means includes a ratchet-type mechanism embodied within said hand-operated lever.
 8. A device as defined in claim 7, wherein said ratchet mechanism includes a member connected fixedly to and for rotation with said shaft and having circularly disposed ratchet teeth disposed coaxially with the axis of said shaft; and cooperating pivotally mounted pawl means including a movable pawl member having at least one detent portion operatively engageable with said ratchet teeth and operable so that responsive to manual movement of said lever handle to rotation of said shaft is effected.
 9. A device as defined in claim 8, wherein said ratchet mechanism includes means to facilitate ratchet-operated rotation of said shaft selectively in both a forward and reverse direction.
 10. A device as defined in claim 1, wherein said shaft and handle means include complementally interfitting and interlocking means to provide for selective assembly and disassembly of the component parts.
 11. A device as defined in claim 1, wherein said base mounting bracket is provided with apertures to receive fastener means therethrough for removable mounting thereof on a supporting surface.
 12. A device as defined in claim 1, wherein said components are grouped in at least a partially disassembled manner to constitute unassembled components for kit form.
 13. A device as defined in claim 1, wherein at least one of said transversely projecting offset end portions is provided with mounting tab means formed from an integral part of said offset portion.
 14. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein both of said transversely projecting offset end portions are provided with apertured mounting tab means formed integrally therewith by excised portions.
 15. A device as defined in claim 14, wherein said apertured mounting tab means are disposed in generally coplanar relation to said mounting bracket plate means. 